Cover removing machine



Ap 7, 1953 E. N. GRlswoLD covER REMOVING MACHINE.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed- Aug. 7, 1951 April 7, 1953 E. N. GRlswoLD' covER REMovrNG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1951 BY 'ff/a M4K/,am

April 7,4 1953 a N. GRlAswoLD covER REMov-ING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. '7, 1951 Patented Apr. 7, 1953 i 'COVER REMOVING MACHINE Earl N. Griswold, Savanna, Ill., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application Augustl 7, 1951, vSerial No. 240; 77 3 1o Claims. (ci. lzweef-1129) (Granted under Title 35, U. sfonda (1952 l sec. 266) i The present invention relates to a machine and apparatus to remove covers from containers.

Individual rounds of ammunition such as the 105,- mm. or the ,90 minare shipped and stored inlber containers. Since these containers need to` be tightly sealed and moistureproof, covers are provided which `are fitted over the ends of themcontainer to tightly engage the container Wall and? thereby effect the necessary moistureproof lit.V Great difculty has been encountered in stripping these covers from the container because of the ltight lit, whenthe need to gain access to the container contents has arisen. Also, previous `stripping apparatusn addition to be. ing cumbersome, unwieldy and time consuming, have so scored, dented and injured the container -thatit is no longer capable of reuse.

It is therefore an object of this invention to disclose an apparatus for stripping covers from a container which is simple in design, effective for theVv intendedpurpose`r and which can be handledby a vsingle operator. y 1

` A further object of this invention is the dis- '.closure of an apparatus combining a work table for handling the container, a movableclamp to hold the container steady in set positionhand gripping or stripping fingers to grasp and strip `tl'iercovers from the container body. i

.A still further object of this invention is the ydisclosure of fluid operatedvapparatus and system for the proper sequential operation of the various devices.

` Yet another object ofthis invention is an arrangement of piping for transmitting uid pressures to the various devices to be operated wherein hand operated valves to eifect the various operations are within easy reach of an operator located at a central station. A Vfurther additional object of this invention isthe rdisclosure of similar but oppositely posi- .tioned gripping lingers which are simultaneously operable tostrip off container covers secured to `opposite ends of a container body.

`With the foregoingand other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention consists of the novel construction, com- Figure 3 is a diagrammatic delineation of the fluid pressure system including the various valves, the movable clamp and cover strippers. f l

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic showing of a part of the fluid pressure' system'including the 'bleeder valve, air `master control valve, clamping cylinder and clamps. K

Figure 5 is a detail of the gripping jaws,y cylinder and mechanism for operating the grippers;

Figurek 6 is a view `taken on line 6-f6 of Fig: ure5. .l

Figure 'l is a view showing a detail of thenioi'i-L able plug housed in the gripping cylinder [of Figure 5 and including the pivot pins for `the gripping arm links and slots -to permit move;

ment of the links. y

Figure 8 is a view taken ure 1.

Figures 9-14 are viewsof the hand operated air valve and bleeder valve with. the operatingY vices of the apparatus, however it iswithintlie intent -of the disclosure to broadly include other media commonly known to be old in uid pres-- sure systems. l, Y.

Referring to the drawing, the work table 4and supporting structure are of built up steel chan.-

nel construction comprising a long rectangular frame l, supporting legs 2 and table top 3.v vUprights or standards 4 welded tothe longframe members and` including cross pieces 5 are'pro- -vided to support the various conduits, valves and air cylinders. Additional supports 6` are' also welded to the side members of frame I and extend downwardly therefrom to support other vpiping and valves. The work table comprises two halves which are arranged so that a rectangular slot 1 extending the entire length of the surface, is formed. Thus when a container is rolled onto the table surface it nally rests within the slot and is supported by a clamp 8 permanently secured to the underlying `supporting structure and positioned within thespace vformedJoy-thc `slot slightly 'below the work table surface. This clamp cooperates with the upper moveable clamp 9 to hold the container steady within the rectangular slot in the table surface. Clamp 9 connected by a rod to piston Il) is reclproca'bly movable in response to pressure acting onthefpiston l0 housed within-a clamp'cylinder Il.

nels I2, and end cylinders I4 are in turn boltedt or secured in any convenient manner'toy these brackets so that the longitudinal axis of the cylinders are parallel to and a short distance above the longitudinal axis of frame I. Pistons I5 are received within cylinders I4 and to each of the pistons I5 is connected byy means oi rods I6, gripping cylinders I'I. The gripping cylinders are thus axially movable toward and awa-yV from the work table surface to move the cover strip-` ping iingers toward and away from a container which is received within the slot in the work tablesurface. Axial movement. of gripping cylinders II` spermitted by the. provision oi exible hose sectionsin the,A connecting. conduits as later tobedescribed- Rieerring.,to-V FigureA 5.V the, gripping cylinder and: stripping finger organizationv comprises an annular tubular member I8 closed at one end by. a plug |9- in which are formed bores to receive the air conduits of the pneumatic system. Theother end, of the annularY member is closed byV a plug 2D, and movable within this member is a plug or piston 2|. Two links 22. and 23 are pivotally joined to; plug 2| by means of pins 24. and'125, slots ZEIand 2T being provided in the movable, plugjtoypermit movement of the links about their 'pivot pins; Armsv 28 and 29' areV pin connected to links 22 and 23,A and are mounted toY pivot about pins 35` and 3| received in bores formed in brackets 32 and 33 Welded to the outer wall of cylinder I 1. 341'and135 :carried bythe free ends of arms V2d 29; are arranged to grasp the cover to be Stripped off when the stripping cylinders are moved' into grasping position. The gripping segments are pivotab'le upon pins 35a, and 35a mounted on arms 28l and 29. Levers 35h and 35bl`whi`ch arev an integra-lvv part ofthe gripping segments are slidable upon the faces of arms 2B and 29 between the solid and dotted line positions as seen on Figure 5'. When the segments 'are infgripping position about the container, stops 34e and 35o mounted on arms 28 and 29 prevent'iurtherpivotal movement of the gripping-segments. In this positionthe segments Arcuate gripping segments 'have a closeand intimate t about the grasped container. When a container isV not being grasped tension springs 34d and 35d connecting levers 34h and: 35b"to the gripping arms` will cause the segments. to pivot about their pin connections untilthey encounter stops 34e and 35e which are alsoY mounted upon arms 28 and 2S. 'This'. arrangement provides a flexible connection to insure atight t about the container. A compressionspring` 36 is received in cylinder II between, plug 20 and piston 2| and serves to bias piston: 21|' to the: right in cylinder il. When piston: 2|: isI in this position the outer ends of links, 22iand23" will be inclined toward the left -endo cylinder' Il' forcing` the gripping ends of arms; 28- and 29 to' swing outwardly about their pivots, It canthus be seen that when air pressure isv admitted-to the-chamberformed by piston .2t andY plug I9, piston 2| is forcedl to the left to, cause the gripping meansA to be brought together-for their.r intended purpose. FlatI bars 3l .and;3|iA` are Welded or secured in any convenient manner to the,` under sides of cylindersv Il and 4 extend horizontally outwardly therefrom and downwardly to form right angles. Rollers or wheels 40 are rotatably mounted on the lower ends of the right angular members to ride on the hormontal iianges of the longitudinal members comprising frame I, when thegripping cylinders are moved toward and away from the work table surface. To permit axial movement of gripping cylinders I'I, the right cylinder is connected to the pneumatic `system by conduit II5, provided withA iiexible hose connection ||5a and conduit Ilwith flexible hose connection Illia between the conduits and the gripping cylinder organization.. In like manner the left cylinder pneumatic system connections provide conduit I I4 and exible nose section Illia. and conduit |08 andflexible. hoseconnection I 58a.

Referring to Figures 3 and-4 the pneumatic system for operating the grippers and holding clamp. comprises a handactuated. shut ofi. valve 4I. which may be. of. the. ordinary ball valve type to. turn theair pressure on andoff. Included in this Valve is aV gage 4Ia toA indicate. the air. pressure in the system- Also. provided isv a hand operated air valve 42'A including a rotatable plug 43 shiftable to various positions byV means of a handle 43a connected thereto. The plugl 43 has passages 44 andv 45 and the outer valve sleeve has ll equiangularly spaced ports' 45, 4T, 48 and i9 which for various' positions ofk operation are in communication with passages 44 and 45, as subsequently* to be described.V Rotatable with handle 43a and extending therefrom is a cam 50 which passes between rollers 5I and 52 to actuate a bleeder valve 55. Roller 5I is permanently securedA to a bracket' mounted. on the frame structure, whereas; roller 52v is' secured to inner sleeve member 54 slidable in an outer sleeve member 55 of bleeder-valve 53. The outer sleeve member has axially'spaced conduits |0` I and |02 leading into thel innerchamber formed by the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve contains port 54a which is inregistry with conduit |52 and port 55h which is in registry withf conduit II when thevinner sleeve member' hasV been forced downwardly to therebyprovide a direct path for air pressure' fromv conduit IOI to conduit |02 for certain positions of' operation. A compression spring 55a 'biases- Vthe inner sleeve member in anupward direction as seen in Figure 4 when the bleeder valveY is not in operation. Cooperating with the bleeder valve is an air master control valve 55' comprising an outer closed cylinder 56a anda-plug or spool 51' forming recess'58 therein withA a port 59 Aso that when thepiston is moved from a rst position, air entering into a chamber |50, from a conduit |03 is exhausted by way of a conduit |04 into the bottom of clamp cylinder II. belowpiston III to maintain clamp 9 in raised position. In this position the upper end of cylinder II is bled to atmosphere via conduitY |55 and' |06, and the ends of the gripping cylinders are rexhausted to atmosphere via conduits IIJ'I,v |108 andi |06. Stops Sla' are provided in` cylinder 56dv to limitY movement of piston 5l to the left as seen in Figure 4. When inner sleeve 54 of the bleeder valve is pushed downwardly `the air introducedV into chamber 5U is permitted to travelby wayof conduit 1| 02 through the bleeder valve intov conduit IBIV and into a second chamber 6| formed by the right side'of -plug 5I and the right cylinder wall. Plug 51 `|08 by wayofconduit |06, which isA in communication with chamber 6I, to move clamp 9 downvalve 62 and into conduits III land I|2`.

aes-goss wardly in clamping position and to actuate the cover strippers. y {"Afvalve '6 2`is also included in the pneumatic systemfhavingha movable-plug 63 which is actua'tedby handle `64. "The plug has VSi'adial ports .communicating withA conduits IIO, III and ||2 ,respectively when a lcontainer having a cover on either end'k is in Iposition on the work table. yIi"V a container Ahaving onlyv one cover is being stripped, after lthe'grippingffingers have been moved into position'to grip thefcontainer, the valve 62`m`ay 'be set to prevent bleeding of either the left or right end cylinder so that when one gripper is holding in conjunction with the iixed and movableclamps, the secondgripper is beingretracted lio-strip the cover from the container.

'The complete sequence of operation of device follows.4 The container to be stripped of its covers is in position within the slot on the work table-and is supported in this position by lower clamp" 8. Y Valve `4I has been set to permit the reduiredamount of air pressure inline |00, valve 6'2"has been' set to the position shown in Figure 15 and the handle of hand operated air valve 42 isinneutral position 4designated as position 1. Inthis positionthe bleeder valve 53 is not affected and remains closed. Air pressure in con-:- duit I'can'not pass through the hand operated airvalve into'conduits I I0, II I and II2 leading 'toV the outer end of cylinders I4, therefore Vthe 'gripping'flngers are withdrawn. LAlso no fair pressure isadmitted'to or released from conduits VI I3, I I4, exible hose. I I 4a, an-d I I5 and iiexible hose "IIa. Air pressure from conduit |00, is transmitted through conduit I 03 into chamber 60 moving plug 51 to the right. `Since the bleeder valve is closed no pressure can" travel from conduit f|02 to conduit IOI,`however pressurev will proceed via conduit |04 into the lower end of cylinder II below piston I0to maintain clamp 9 inraised position. At the same time the chamber above piston I0 is bled by way of conduits I 05, |06 'and exhaust 59, and the ends of gripping cylinders are also .exhausted to atmosphere by way of conduits 01, flexible hose I 01a, |08,\exible house I08a,'|06 and port 59, to cause-the gripping fingers to remain open.

The operator now swings handle V43a of the 'hand operated air valve to the right a's shown in Figure 10 to assume position 2. Again bleeder -valve 53 remains unaffected, clamp 9 remains raised and the gripping fingers remain open.

v However, air` pressure from conduit |00 passes into conduit |09, through passage 44 in the handv operated air valve, into conduit IIO and through Air pressure is thus admitted into the outer ends of vend cylinder I4 to force pistons I5'and conselquently the gripper iinger cylinder organization in position toward the work table so that the container `covers are ready to be grasped. Also .in this position the inner ends of end cylin-ders I4 are exhausted to atmosphere via conduits I I5, II4, 'I I3, passage 45 and exhaust port 48. f

The operator now moves the handle 43a to neutral or position 3 as shown in Figure 11. The .gripping iingers remain in position to grasp the container lcovers but, in every otherrespect the situation noted in position 1 obtains. Clamp 9 remains raised and the gripping. fingers are open. Handle 43a is now moved .to position 4 as seen Vin Figure 12. The knife edge of cam 50 passes .between `the `rollers 5| and V52 to open bleeder valve 53, "however'no .air pressure vcan pass through' the hand operated air valve, hence .the

. ceeds into conduits '|01, |08 and then into gripping cylinders I1 to cause the gripping fingers to grasp the container closures. The lower end of cylinder II is bled to atmosphere by way of conduit |04 and'bore 59.

I-landle43a isnow Ishifted to position 5 as seen in Figure 13. l The bleeder valve is still open, clamp 9 is in lowered position and the gripping fingers remain closed about the container covers. Air pressure proceeds by way of conduit |09 through passage44` in valve 42into conduit'I I3, then into` conduits I I4 and I5, and is finally introduced into the inner ends of cylinders I4 to move pistons I 5 outwardly as well as the gripping cylinders and grippingngers. At the same time the outer ends of cylinders I4 'are bled to atmosphere through conduits III,\-II2, valve 62, conduit |I0, and into passage 45 to` atmosphere. The withdrawal ofthe gripping fingers while still in closed position will strip the covers from the container on theworktable surface .f

l The operator then moves-handle 43a to position 6' as seen in` Figure 14 which is again the neutral position. Cam 50 is no longer in engagement with roller A52 wherefor spring 55a returns bleeder valve 53' rto closed position. Air intro-v duced into chamber -60 by way of conduits |00 and |03 will force plug 51 to theright in cylinder 56a inview of the bleeder hole provided inthe .lower end of sleeve 550i.V bleeder valve 53. The air pressure in chamber 60will proceedthrough conduit |04 into the lower end of clamp cylinder II to raise clamp 9. So also, clamp cylinder I I will be exhausted through conduits |05, |06l and port 59, and the outer end of the gripping cylinders Will bleed to exhaust by way of conduits |01, |08, |06 and port 59. When the gripping Acylinders are exhausted, spring 36 in these cylinders will cause thefingers to open to thereby release and drop the covers into receptacles provided to receive them.

lWhen it is desired to strip the cover ofi' a jsingle cover container, valve 62 is used. Y The first four steps inthe sequence of operation is as outlined above. Beforeftheoperater moves handle 43a`to position 5, he first moves handle .54 of valve 62 either clockwise` or counterclockwise depending` on whether the cover tobe removedois` either at the right or left end of the container. assumed only oneof the gripping cylinders will be withdrawn to strip the rcorresponding cover olf the container. The next position 6, will cause both sets of fingers to open and clamp 9 to raise so that the container may be removed. Valve 62 may then be returned to its normal operating position, whereuponposition 5 may again be assumed to withdraw the fingers whichvare still in gripping position. vTurning handle 43a. to the last or positionnumber 61will place the apparatus in condition `to receive the next container.

Although the above .disclosure is rprimarily .concerned with fibercontainers for the. mm. and 90..mm. rounds,vit is 'obviousthatwith slight modicatons to lthe .l apparatus, container for 76 When vposition 5 of handle 43a is then assi-1,0315

mmaul'pandzcther: size; calibers may be: accom.- modated; For: example the; grippers may bear.- ranged'. tozbe: bolted on to the; gripping arms so thatthey'arel easilyv removable and interchangeableuwith grippers. of varying. sizes.; Also, permarient"` cl'amp: 8: may be adjustably-v movable in a verticali .direction to,` cooperate' with. movable clamp S to accomodate different size containers. In additiongit.l isf to .be lunderstoodpthat-the device is capable of .usewith otherfthan berv containers, suchV as' metallic: containers for storing and shipping.' guns; ammunition. etc;

Numerous` other. modications; and; alterations of the structurel of the. valves andV parts which have been disclosed herein for purposes of; illustration Willi be2 apparent` to,Y one. skilled; inthe art, anditi is' obvious that. the same may be made withoutdeparting from the'y spirit and scopev of the invention as dei-ined in the-,following claims:

The invention described hereinV may be manufactured andlused by'or for the Government for governmental purposes without` the' .payment of any royalty. thereon.

11. In a machine for strippingan end cover from a tubular' container, meanstosupport said 'container in horizontal position, means mounted above said support vertically movable toward and away from said support' toclamp a container therebetween, a carrier, means mounting said carrier on said support for horizontal reciproca- 'tion-v toward and away from va container on said support means, a pair' of oppositely-disposed grippers pivoted on said carrier, means mounted on said carrier operable to movesaid grippers simultaneously to grip an end cover therebetween', a single source of pressureiluid, means responsive to fluid pressure to actuate said carrier, said clamp and said grippers in operative movement, manually controlled valve means intermediate said source of pressure fluid, and said carrier, clamp and grippers operative to a iirst position to connect said source with'said carrier, and means responsive to a predetermined continued movement of saidy valve means to simultaneously` connect said source with said clamp and said grippers.

2'. In a machine for stripping covers from opposite ends of a cylindrical container, means to support said container in horizontalY position, means mounted above said support vertically movable toward and away from said support to clamp a container therebetween, aA pair of opposed carriers mounted' on said support, each of said carriers located axially outwardly of a corresponding end of said container and each actuable for horizontal reciprocation toward and away from said container on said support, a pair of oppositely-disposed grippers on each of said carriers, each pair of grippers operable simultaneously to grip an end cover therebetween, a singe source of pressurefluid, means mounted on said carriers, said clamp and said grippers responsive to fluid pressure to actuate said carriers, clamp and grippers in operative movement, conduit means connecting said single source to each of said fluid pressureresponsive means, manuallyA controlled valve means in said conduit means intermediate said source and said luid pressure responsive means operative to a rst position.. toy connect said single source of huid pressure with said fluid responsive means on said carrier, andfmeans responsive to a predetermined continued.. movement of said. valve-means to. si:- multaneously,` connect saidsingle sourceo fluid pressure with thel pressure, responsive means` for said clamp and said grippers.

3. In. aw machine, for removing an end. cover fromv a tubular container, asupport, means on said support above said container verticallyV movable to clamp said container on said support,l a carrier including acylinder mounted` on said support axially outwardly of` the covered end of sa-id container, Apressure responsive: meansin said cylinder for translating said carrier-toward and away'from. saidr container, aypiston in said carrier; a pair of` gripper levers,'a grippermounted onv a corresponding endof each lever respectively, link means pivotally connecting each lever with said piston: whereby, movementof said piston moves said grippers into cooperative gripping relation, a single source of pressure. fluid, conduit means connecting said source with said pressure responsivel means and said piston, and valve means in said conduit means intermediate, said source,` and saidpressure,- responsivemeans and said piston-operable to connect said. source with said pressure' responsive.` means and said-piston in succession.V

4; vIn Va, machine forA removing.l covers from op'- posed ends of a tubular container, a work table for supporting a container. in horizontal position thereon, a clamp supported above-,said Work table for vertical movement' to clamp a containeron said table', a-pair of opposed carriers,- each carrier mounted on said Work table axiallyl outwardly of a corresponding endn of said' cover, each of said carriers including-a cylinder, a piston in each of said cylinders, pressure'responsive means in each of said carriers, a pair of oppositely-disposed gripper levers, a gripper mounted on a corresponding end of each lever respectively, link means connecting each of said levers with said pressure responsive meansv whereby movement of saidY pressure responsive means moves said grippers into cooperative gripping relation, a single source of pressure iiuid, conduit means connecting said source with said piston" and said pressure responsive means, and valve means in said conduit means intermediate said, source, said pressure responsive means and said piston operable to connect said source with piston and said pressure responsive'me'ans in succession;

5. In a machine for removing an end cover from a tubular container, a support, means for clamping a container in position onsaid support, a carrier, means mounting said carrier for translation axially of Va container clamped on said support, rst pressure responsive means connected with said carrier to so translate the same, a pair of grippers" movably mounted on said carrier, second pressure responsive means on said carrier tosimultaneously move said grippers into gripping relation, a single source of fluid pressure, conduit means adapted to connect said first and second pressure responsive means to said source of iluid pressure, and valve means in said conduit means operablel tol connect 4said source to said nrst and second pressure responsive means in sequence in the order named.

6. In a machine lfor. removing covers: from opposed ends; of a tubularcontainer, a support,

meansv vertically movable rfor clamping a con'- tainer in position. onsaidisupport, a pair of op"- posed'carriers, meansmountingeach of said carriers axially outwardly of, a corresponding end of a. container clamped on saidsupport for simultaneioustranslation toward andavvay fromsaid container, firstV pressure responsive--means connected. witheach: of said carriers` to i so. translate 2,es4,ose

the same, a pair of oppositely disposed grippers movably mounted on each of said carriers adjacent each end cover, second pressure responsive means on each of said carriers to simultaneously move each of said pair of grippers into gripping relation about a corresponding end cover, a single source of iiuid pressure, conduit means adapted to connect said iirst and second pressure responsive means to said Vsource of uid pressure, and valve means in said conduit means operable to connect said source to said first and second pressure responsive means in sequence in the order named.

7. In a machine for stripping covers from opposite ends of a cylindrical container, a work table having a rectangular elongated slot for receiving said container, a rst fixed clamp supported on said work table below and within the space formed by said slot to support said container in horizontal position therein, a second clamp mounted above said work table and vertically movable to frictionally engage said container, rst means on said second clamp responsive to fluid pressure to move said second clamp to container engaging position, two oppositely positioned stripping members mounted on said work table each stripping member positioned axially outwardly of a corresponding end of said container for axial movement toward and away from said container covers and having cover gripping fingers, second fluid responsive means on said stripping members to move said stripping mem- Y bers to cover engaging position, third fluid pressure responsive means on said gripping ngers to contract said fingers about said covers, a single source of uid pressure, conduit means connecting said first, second and third fluid pressure responsive means with said source of fluid pressure, and hand operated valve means in said conduit means movable to first connect said source with said second pressure responsive means to move said stripping members to cover engaging position, then further movable to connect said rst and third pressure responsive means with said pressure source.

8. The combination in claim 7 wherein said first pressure responsive means comprises a vertically elongated cylinder, a piston in said cylinder and means connecting said piston tosaid second clamp.

9. The combination in claim 7 wherein said second pressure responsive means comprises a pair of oppositely located horizontally elongated cylinders, a horizontally reciprocable piston in each of said horizontal cylinders, and a rod connecting each of said horizontally reciprocable pistons to its corresponding stripping member.

10. The combination in claim 9 wherein said third pressure responsive means comprises elongated plugs reciprocable in horizontal bores formed in each of said stripping members and means pivotally connecting each plug to its corresponding cover gripping fingers.

EARL N. GRISWOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 640,091 Carr Dec. 26, 1899 1,462,305 Snyder July 17, 1923 1,633,593 Larbalester June 28, 1927 1,692,274 Malloy et al Nov. 20. 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number` Country Date 984,937 IFrance Mar. 7, 1951 

